The Chicago Sky have responded to a lawsuit filed by former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, asserting that his claims of First Amendment violations are baseless. The team stated that Freedom was removed from a WNBA game on Aug. 23 at Wintrust Arena due to his conduct, not his speech.
In a statement released by principal owner Michael Alter, the Sky stated, “Freedom’s claim that he was removed from Wintrust Arena due to his speech is false. As his own complaint acknowledges, he wore the shirt in question for multiple hours without any contact with security. Security removed Freedom only after he violated fan code of conduct by rising from his seat, gesturing at a player, and stepping toward the court.”
The team's statement continued, “Freedom was removed for his conduct, not his speech. We look forward to the truth prevailing in court.” The Sky added that they would refrain from further public comment on the matter due to pending litigation, following advice from legal counsel.
Kanter filed a lawsuit in Illinois against the Chicago Sky, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, and the city of Chicago. He alleges that all three entities unfairly removed him from the game between the Chicago Sky and the Indiana Fever. The incident leading to his removal involved heated words exchanged between Kanter and Sky guard Natasha Cloud. Maya Moore, a former WNBA player, has joined the lawsuit as a plaintiff, alleging that the Sky's actions violated her own First Amendment rights as a spectator. Moore, who is married to a player on the Indiana Fever, stated that she was also asked to leave the arena shortly after Kanter's removal. She had been seated courtside and was wearing a shirt with the phrase "Woman noun. adult human female." printed on it.
Kanter's lawsuit centers on his removal from the arena, which he contends was a violation of his constitutional rights. The Chicago Sky, however, maintain that Kanter's actions, including standing up, gesturing at a player, and approaching the court, constituted a violation of the fan code of conduct, leading to his removal, independent of any statement he may have made or apparel he may have worn.